Method and Inquiring Device for Implementing Switching in Network Fault

ABSTRACT

A method for implementing switching when the network is faulted is disclosed, and the method includes: establishing a quick detection mechanism between non-querier and querier; the non-querier using the detection mechanism for performing a real-time detection on the querier and downlink of the querier; switching the non-querier to be the querier when the non-querier detects that the querier or the downlink of the querier is faulted. A querier is further disclosed. With the method, it can complete a quick switching of the querier and a quick transmission of a multicast flow when the querier or the downlink thereof is faulted, thereby reducing the interrupt time of users receiving the multicast flow, implementing a quick protection of a multicast service, and improving the service experience for the user.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to multicast technique, and particularly,to a method and querier for implementing switching when the network isfaulted.

BACKGROUND OF THE RELATED ART

With the rapid development of an IPTV (Internet Protocol Television)service around the world, the video flow in the network is increasingconstantly at a high speed, and the multicast has become one of the mostimportant techniques in the data communication network. The demand ofincreasingly expanding market has a higher requirement for transmissionquality of video service of network provider, and in order to improvethe service experience of the IPTV user, a higher transmission quality,a quicker channel switching capability and a better network failureavoidance capability are required.

The multicast flow needs to run through a service provider side gateway,a core network, a service node and an access network from IPTV serviceprovider to final user. Processing modes of the core network and theaccess network are different from each other in the aspect of thenetwork failure avoidance, because both the two network types and theused multicast protocols are different. The core network is a networkbased on route forwarding, of which the used protocol is a PIM (ProtocolIndependent Multicast) protocol, while the access network performsforwarding based on a MAC (Media Access Control) address, and themulticast on demand uses an IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol)protocol, and different network architectures and protocol types lead tothe difference in quick switching mode when the network is faulted.

Referring to FIG. 1 please, the IGMPv2 (IGMP version 2) protocol isextensively used at present in the access network, which is a multicastgroup member management protocol. In general, one multicast groupcorresponds to one set of video programs, relating to three types ofnetwork elements: the first one is a multicast querier, which isresponsible for querying and maintaining a state of each multicast groupmember, receiving and processing a request of the group member forjoining and leaving the multicast group, and sending out a multicastflow from an access demanded by a user; the second one is a multicastgroup member (also called host), the host will send a request forjoining and leaving the multicast group and receive the multicast flowsent from the querier when the user clicks and closes the multicastprogram; the third one is a non-querier, other routers with querierfunction in the same network, and when one querier in network isfaulted, one non-querier will be switched to be the querier (if thenumber of non-queriers is more than one, the electing mode is the samewith that of electing the querier). When there are many routers withquerier function in one access network, certain rules (for example,according to a relation between sizes of IP addresses) will be usedbetween the routers to choose one querier. A non-querier receives aquery message sent from the querier regularly, and the non-querierstarts a timer to wait for the coming of next query message afterreceiving one query message sent from the querier, and if the timerexpires, it means that one query message has been lost, and when thenumber of conditions like overtime is up to a certain threshold value(called robustness variable, usually take a value of 2), the non-querierthinks the querier is faulted and sets the state of itself immediatelyto be the querier and sends out the query message. There are twofunctions for the message, and one is judging which multicast groupthere is a member joining according to a message replied by each hostafter receiving the query message, and the other is choosing one querieragain via the query message if there is still at least one non-querierfor this time.

The above method has three defects: firstly, the period of switching thenon-querier to be the querier is too long, because the switching ofquerier depends on the frequency of the querier sending the querymessage, and since the query message is mainly used for the interactionbetween the querier and a large number of hosts to maintain therelationship between multicast group members, the querying period of thequerier is usually configured to be relatively longer (the defaultperiod is 125 seconds), namely, the non-querier generally needs morethan 250 seconds (multiply the querying period by the robustnessvariable) to judge that itself has been switched to be the querier;secondly, the non-querier still needs to send the query message andreceive the reply message sent from each host to determine whichmulticast group user demands are included in after switched to be thequerier, and the time depends on the time required by receiving thereply message after sending the query message, which is usually adefault value of 10 seconds; thirdly, if a dynamic multicast protocol isperformed between the non-querier and an upper network (such as IGMP,PIM and so on), the non-querier initiates a request to the upper networkand brings in the multicast flow from the upper network afterdetermining which multicast group the user demands are included in, andthe period depends on architecture of the upper network and speed of theupper equipment receiving and processing the request, and the timerequired by sending a data flow to the querier after processing. Theabove three defects result in that after the original querier or thedownlink of the querier is faulted, the non-querier is switched to bethe querier and finally sends the multicast flow to each host accordingto the member relationship of each multicast group, which requires avery long period.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method and querierfor implementing switching when the network is faulted, and when aquerier or a downlink of the querier is faulted, the quick switching ofquerier and quick transmission of multicast flow are completed by aquick detection mechanism, to reduce the interrupt time of usersreceiving the multicast flow, thereby implementing a quick protection ofmulticast service and improving the service experience of the user.

The present invention provides a method for implementing switching whenthe network is faulted, and the method comprises:

establishing a quick detection mechanism between a non-querier and aquerier;

the non-querier using the detection mechanism to perform a real-timedetection on the querier and a downlink of the querier;

when the non-querier detects that the querier or the downlink of thequerier is faulted, switching the non-querier to be the querier.

The detection mechanism is: a bidirectional forwarding mechanism or anEthernet operations administration and maintenance mechanism.

Furthermore, the step of the non-querier using the detection mechanismto perform the real-time detection on the querier and the downlink ofthe querier specifically comprises:

the non-querier detecting in real time whether the querier and thedownlink of the querier are faulted through a bidirectional forwardingsession state;

or, the non-querier detecting in real time whether the querier and thedownlink of the querier are faulted through an Ethernet operationsadministration and maintenance state.

Furthermore, the method further comprises:

the non-querier updating a state of each multicast group memberaccording to a received request of the multicast group member forjoining or leaving a multicast group.

Furthermore, the method further comprises:

the non-querier bringing in a multicast flow corresponding to themulticast group which there is a member joining from an upper network.

Furthermore, after the non-querier is switched to be the querier, themethod further comprises:

when sending a query message, the non-querier sending the multicast flowto a lower network at the same time.

The present invention further provides a non-querier, the non-queriercomprises:

an establishment unit, which is configured to establish a detectionmechanism with querier;

a detection unit, which is configured to use the detection mechanismestablished by the establishment unit to perform a real-time detectionon the querier and a downlink of the querier;

a switching unit, which is configured to switch the non-querier to bethe querier when the detection unit detects that the querier or thedownlink of the querier is faulted.

Furthermore, the non-querier further comprises:

a receiving unit, which is configured to receive a request of multicastgroup member for joining or leaving a multicast group;

a state updating unit, which is configured to update a state of eachmulticast group member according to the request of multicast groupmember for joining or leaving the multicast group received by thereceiving unit.

Furthermore, the non-querier further comprises:

a multicast route processing unit, which is configured to bring in amulticast flow corresponding to the multicast group which there is amember joining from an upper network by multicast route protocolaccording to the request of multicast group member for joining themulticast group received by the receiving unit.

Furthermore, the non-querier further comprises: a sending unit, which isconfigured to send the query message and send the multicast flow to thelower network after the switching unit switches the non-querier to bethe querier.

With the method and querier for implementing switching when the networkis faulted provided by the present invention, the single quick detectionis performed between the non-querier and the querier to implement thatthe non-querier quickly finds the failure of the querier or the downlinkof the querier and quickly switches the non-querier to be the querier,which implements the quick protection of the multicast service andimproves the user's service experience.

Furthermore, when the non-querier receives the message of joining andleaving the multicast group in the present invention, the non-querieractively updates the state of each multicast group member, and when thenon-querier is switched to be the querier, the query message is sent andthe multicast flow corresponding to the multicast group which there is amember joining is sent immediately to the lower network at the sametime, which completes the quick transmission of the multicast flow andreduces the interrupt time of users receiving the multicast flow.

Furthermore, when the non-querier maintains the state of each multicastgroup member according to the present invention, it actively brings inthe multicast flow corresponding to the multicast group which there is amember joining from the upper network at the same time, temporarilyterminating the flow in a local place. It sends the multicast flowimmediately to the lower network after the non-querier is switched to bethe querier. It greatly reduces the multicast flow interrupt time of theuser's host when the querier or the downlink of the querier is faulted,and it can have an effect that the final user doesn't feel the switchingdue to network failure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a topology schematic diagram of the network according tothe related art;

FIG. 2 shows a flow chart of a method for implementing switching when anetwork failure occurs according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a structure schematic diagram of the non-querier accordingto the present invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The specific embodiment of the present invention is illustrated indetails in combination with drawings in the following.

There are three problems in the aspect of failure switching according tothe current IGMP protocol: firstly, when the querier or the downlink ofthe querier is faulted, the period of switching the non-querier to bethe querier is long; secondly, after switching the non-querier to be thequerier, the state of each multicast group member can't be known untilthe host replies the query message; thirdly, the non-querier needs tobring in the flow from the upper network again after knowing the stateof each multicast group member. The above three problems will lead to along interrupt of the user's multicast flow.

The reason why the first problem occurs is that the state switchingbetween the querier and the non-querier depends on a wait overtimemechanism of the query message sent by the non-querier to the querier,and the sending period of the message is very long, because the messageis further used for the querier querying the hosts of all the multicastgroup member at the same time. The single quick detection mechanismbetween the querier and the non-querier in the present invention solvesthe problem, wherein the quick detection mechanism comprises but notlimit to the BFD (Bidirectional Forwarding Detection) or the EthernetOAM (Ethernet Operations Administration and Maintenance) mechanism, etc.The single quick detection is performed between the querier and thenon-querier to implement the function of the non-querier quickly findingthe failure of the querier and downlink of the querier and quicklyswitching the non-querier to be the querier.

The reason why the second problem occurs is that the non-querier canreceive the message of users joining and leaving the multicast group butdoesn't process the message, namely, the non-querier doesn't record thequery state of each multicast group. The solving method used in thepresent invention is when the non-querier receives the message ofjoining and leaving the multicast group, actively updating member stateof each multicast group, and when the non-querier is switched to be thequerier, the multicast flow corresponding to the multicast group whichthere is a member joining is sent immediately to the lower network atthe same time when the query message is sent.

The reason why the third problem occurs is the same as the second one,that is, because the non-querier doesn't maintain the member state ofeach multicast group. The solving method used in the present inventionis that the non-querier brings in actively, from the upper network, themulticast flow corresponding to the multicast group which there is amember joining at the same time when maintaining the state of eachmulticast group member, which can use multicast protocols such as PIMand IGMP and so on for bringing in the multicast flow and temporarilyterminate the multicast flow in a local place, and after the non-querieris switched to be the querier, the multicast flow is sent immediately tothe lower network.

FIG. 2 illustrates the flow chart of the method for implementingswitching when the network is faulted according to the presentinvention. Referring to FIG. 2 please, the method for implementingswitching when the network is faulted comprises:

in step 201, the quick detection mechanism is established between thenon-querier and the querier. The detection mechanism comprises thebidirectional forwarding detection mechanism or the Ethernet operationsadministration and maintenance mechanism.

In step 202, the non-querier updates the state of each multicast groupmember according to the received request of the multicast group memberfor joining or leaving the multicast group. The non-querier makes use ofthe existing message to maintain the state of each multicast groupmember without adding a protocol message in the lower network.

In step 203, the non-querier brings in from the upper network themulticast flow corresponding to the multicast group which a member joinswithout sending the multicast flow to the downlink network.

In step 204, the non-querier uses the detection mechanism for performinga real-time detection on the querier and downlink of the querier.Specifically, it can comprise:

the non-querier detecting in real time whether the querier and thedownlink of the querier has failure via the bidirectional forwardingsession state;

or, the non-querier detecting in real time whether the querier and thedownlink of the querier is faulted via the Ethernet operationsadministration and maintenance state;

in step 205, the non-querier is switched to be the querier whendetecting that the querier and the downlink of the querier is faulted.

In step 206, the non-querier sends the multicast flow to the lowernetwork at the same time when sending the query message.

After the original failure of querier recovers, the immediate switchingof querier state is not performed temporarily, the original querieractively maintains the state of each multicast group member via samesteps, and brings in the multicast flow from the upper network. When thecurrent querier is faulted, it will reuse the quick detection mechanismfor finding and implementing switching.

The present example not only is applicable to a scene of which the uppernetwork is a three-layer network, such as the multicast protocol is thePIM protocol, but also applicable to a scene of which the upper networkis a two-layer network, in which the querier (the querier and thenon-querier) can enable the monitor function of IGMP at the same time.

The method for implementing switching when the network is faulted isillustrated in detail with reference to several applied examples in thefollowing.

Application one, the quick detection is performed between the querierand the non-querier via the BFD protocol.

In step A1, the BFD session is established between the querier and thenon-querier, and the non-querier detects in real time whether thequerier and the downlink of the querier is normal via the BFD sessionstate;

in step B1, the non-querier actively maintains the member state of eachmulticast group according to the received request of each host forjoining and leaving the multicast group;

in step C1, the non-querier actively brings in from the upper networkthe multicast flow corresponding to the multicast group which a memberjoins, terminating the flow temporarily in the local place;

in step D1, the querier or the downlink of the querier is faulted, whichwill be found via the BFD detection mechanism by the non-querier;

in step E1, the non-querier is actively switched to be the querier, andit sends the multicast flow corresponding to the multicast group which amember joins immediately to the lower network at the same time whensending the query message.

Application two, quick detection is performed between the querier andthe non-querier via the Ethernet OAM protocol.

In step A2, the Ethernet OAM maintenance entity is established betweenthe querier and the non-querier, the non-querier detects in real timewhether the querier and the downlink of the querier is normal via thestate of the Ethernet OAM;

in step B2, the non-querier actively maintains the member state of eachmulticast group according to the received request of each host forjoining and leaving the multicast group;

in step C2, the non-querier actively brings in from the upper networkthe multicast flow corresponding to the multicast group which a memberjoins, terminating the flow temporarily in the local place;

in step D2, the querier or the downlink of the querier is faulted, whichwill be found via the Ethernet OAM detection mechanism by thenon-querier;

in step E2, the non-querier is actively switched to be the querier, andit sends the multicast flow corresponding to the multicast group which amember joins immediately to the lower network at the same time whensending the query message.

Application three, there is one querier and a plurality of non-queriersin the network, and the quick detection is performed between the querierand each non-querier via the BFD protocol.

In step A3, the BFD session is established between the querier and eachnon-querier, and the non-querier detects in real time whether thequerier and the downlink of the querier is normal via the state of theBFD session;

in step B3, each non-querier actively maintains the member state of eachmulticast group according to the received request of each host forjoining and leaving the multicast group;

in step C3, each non-querier actively brings in from the upper networkthe multicast flow corresponding to the multicast group which a memberjoins, terminating the flow temporarily in the local place;

in step D3, the querier or the downlink of the querier is faulted, whichwill be found via the BFD detection mechanism by the non-querier;

in step E3, each non-querier is actively switched to be the querier, andthen the query message is sent to perform the election of the querier,and the elected new querier immediately sends the multicast flowcorresponding to the multicast group which a member joins to the lowernetwork.

Application four, the quick detection is performed between the querierand the non-querier via the Ethernet OAM protocol, and the querier (orthe downlink of the querier) is faulted, which will lead that thenon-querier is switched to be the querier to send the multicast flow.After the querier in original group (or the downlink thereof) recoversfrom the failure, the current querier will not be switched to be thenon-querier temporarily, and when the querier in the current group (orthe downlink thereof) is faulted, the current non-querier is switched tobe the querier again by triggering via the Ethernet OAM mechanism.

In step A4, the original querier (or the downlink of the originalquerier) recovers from the failure, and the state of Ethernet OAMmaintenance entity between the original querier and the current querierrecovers, and the original querier will not be switched to be thequerier temporarily, but in the state of the current non-querier;

in step B4, the original querier actively maintains the member state ofeach multicast group according to the received request of each host forjoining and leaving the multicast group;

in step C4, the original querier actively brings in from the uppernetwork the multicast flow corresponding to the multicast group which amember joins, terminating the flow temporarily in the local place;

in step D4, the current querier or the downlink of the current querieris faulted, which will be found by the original querier via the EthernetOAM detection mechanism;

in step E4, the original querier is actively switched to be the querier,and it sends the multicast flow corresponding to the multicast groupwhich a member joins immediately to the lower network at the same timewhen sending the query message.

FIG. 3 illustrates a structure schematic diagram of the non-querieraccording to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, the non-queriercomprises:

an establishment unit 301, configured to establish the quick detectionmechanism with the querier;

a detection unit 302, configured to use the detection mechanismestablished by the establishment unit for performing a real-timedetection on the querier and the downlink of the querier;

a switching unit 303, configured to switch the non-querier to be thequerier when the detection unit detects the failure of the querier orthe downlink of the querier.

Furthermore, the non-querier further comprises:

a receiving unit, configured to receive the request of the multicastgroup member for joining or leaving the multicast group;

a state updating unit, configured to update a state of each multicastgroup member according to the request of multicast group member forjoining or leaving the multicast group received by the receiving unit.

Furthermore, the non-querier further comprises:

a multicast route processing unit, configured to bring in from an uppernetwork a multicast flow corresponding to the multicast group whichthere is a member joining by multicast route protocol according to therequest of multicast group member for joining the multicast groupreceived by the receiving unit.

Furthermore, the non-querier further comprises:

a sending unit, configured to send the query message and send themulticast flow to the lower network after the switching unit switchesthe non-querier to be the querier.

The above description is only the preferred examples of the presentinvention, and it should be pointed out that, the ordinary personskilled in the art can make various improvements and modificationswithout departing from the principle of the present invention, and theseimprovements and modifications should all fall into the protection scopeof the present invention.

1. A method for implementing switching when a network is faulted, themethod comprising: establishing a quick detection mechanism between anon-querier and a querier; the non-querier using the detection mechanismto perform a real-time detection on the querier and downlink of thequerier; when the non-querier detects that the querier or the downlinkof the querier is faulted, switching the non-querier to be the querier.2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, the detection mechanism is:a bidirectional forwarding mechanism or an Ethernet operationsadministration and maintenance mechanism.
 3. The method according toclaim 2, wherein the step of the non-querier using the detectionmechanism to perform the real-time detection on the querier and thedownlink of the querier specifically comprises: the non-querierdetecting in real time whether the querier and the downlink of thequerier are faulted via a bidirectional forwarding session state; or,the non-querier detecting in real time whether the querier and thedownlink of the querier are faulted via an Ethernet operationsadministration and maintenance state.
 4. The method according to claim1, wherein the method further comprises: the non-querier updating astate of each multicast group member according to a received request ofthe multicast group member for joining or leaving a multicast group. 5.The method according to claim 4, wherein the method further comprises:the non-querier bringing in, from an upper network, a multicast flowcorresponding to the multicast group which a member joins.
 6. The methodaccording to claim 5, wherein after the non-querier is switched to bethe querier, the method further comprises: the non-querier sending themulticast flow to a lower network at the same time when sending a querymessage.
 7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the upper networkis: a network with three layers or a network with two layers.
 8. Anon-querier, comprising: an establishment unit, configured to establisha detection mechanism with querier; a detection unit, configured to usethe detection mechanism established by the establishment unit to performa real-time detection on the querier and downlink of the querier; aswitching unit, configured to switch the non-querier to be the querierwhen the detection unit detects that the querier or the downlink of thequerier is faulted.
 9. The non-querier according to claim 8, wherein thenon-querier further comprises: a receiving unit, configured to receive arequest of multicast group member for joining or leaving a multicastgroup; a state updating unit, configured to update a state of eachmulticast group member according to the request of the multicast groupmember for joining or leaving the multicast group received by thereceiving unit.
 10. The non-querier according to claim 9, wherein thenon-querier further comprises: a multicast route processing unit,configured to bring in, from an upper network, a multicast flowcorresponding to the multicast group which a member joins by multicastroute protocol according to the request of the multicast group memberfor joining the multicast group received by the receiving unit.
 11. Thenon-querier according to claim 10, wherein the non-querier furthercomprises: a sending unit, configured to send a query message and sendthe multicast flow to a lower network after the switching unit switchesthe non-querier to be the querier.